Callum Hawkins to miss Great Manchester Run

Wilson Kipsang and Tirunesh Dibaba head the elite 10km fields, while Hawkins has withdrawn due to illness

A throat infection has forced Callum Hawkins to withdraw from this weekend’s Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run.

The 24-year-old had been aiming to become the first British man to win the 10km event which takes place on May 28 but his illness means he will no longer be taking part.

“I always want to race the best in the world so I’m really disappointed not to be in Manchester,” said Hawkins, who was pre-selected to run the marathon for Great Britain at this summer’s IAAF World Championships.

“My withdrawal is simply a precautionary measure in light of a lingering throat infection that has prevented me from doing key training sessions.

“With the World Championships coming closer I don’t want to take any risks.”

The elite 10km fields in Manchester will be headed by Kenya’s former marathon world record-holder Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopia’s three-time Olympic track champion Tirunesh Dibaba.

Kipsang will be joined by USA’s Bernard Lagat and Dathan Ritzenhein, plus South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka and Britain’s Rio Olympians Andy Vernon and Tsegai Tewelde.

Among those racing Dibaba will be France’s Christelle Daunay and Sophie Duarte, plus Britain’s Gemma Steel and Katrina Wootton.

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